Automatic liquid-elevator.



Patented July W. H. SMITH.

AuoMATlc LIQUID ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9. I9I6.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID-ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9,1918.

Application filed December 19, 1916. Serial No. 137,816.

and, State of New Mexico, have invented` certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Liquid-llevators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for rais? ing liquid from a` lower level. to a higher lcvcl, and particularly to means for lifting liquid by water power, this invention being an improvement on my prior application, Serial No. filed October 21, 1909, the object of theinvention being to provide a construction whereby the water from a cit)Y water supply or like source of water under constant pressure may be used to elevate water or other liquid from a cistern, well, or other point to a higher level, a further object being to provide means whereby there may be a constant flow of water when a faucet or like outlet is opened.

My prior application above referred to, included a pumpingchamber connected at its upper end to a water reservoir and connected at its lower end to a water inlet pipe and a discharge pipe. 1Water being admitted to the pumping chamber and gradually rising therein, forces a column of air from the upper portion of thev pumping chamber into the reservoir, the air entering the reservoir in turn forcing out therein a certain amount of water to a discharge pipe. Thus the invention above referred to also included means whereby when the water has risen to its full. height in the pumping chamber, the inlet valve is closed and discharge valve automatically opencdthc water passing out of the pumping chamber to any suitable discharge and the air returned fronr the reservoir into the pumping chamber, thus permitting the reservoir to again till with water.

My present invention includes in combination with. the elements above mentioned, an intermediate compressed air tank into which air is forced from the pumping chamber, and from which. compressed air is taken to force out the water in the reservoir.

The invention also includes an air tank connected to the discharge pipe leading from the reservoir into which water may be forced from the reservoir when the faucet on the discharge pipe closed, thereby compressing the air therein, the air thus compressed within the air chamber acting when the faucet. is open to force water out of the discharge pipe, whether the reservoir is taking in water or discharging it.

The invention also includes means whereby the air within the air tank may be constantly replenished and kept under a constant pressure.

Further, the invention includes means whereby the compressed air forced into the water reservoir may be discharged into the water within the well or cistern, thereby acting to` cool and purify the water in the eistern or well.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a vertical section of my apparatus, the equalizing tanks being shown in elevation partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of che valve mechanism for the pumping chamber, the valves and valve stems being shown in elevation.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to these figures. 2 designates av well,cistern, or other chamber for the eollection of water, and 3 designates a receptacle therein prcferabl v located in the bottom of the well or cistern and forming aA water reservoir or collecting chamber. This chamber 3 has an inlet opening in 'its lower end designated il, whereby water may flow Ain from the Well or cistern, this opening `being provided with a check valve 5 which prevents the back tlow of Water, Extending from the lower end et the chamber or reser voir 3 is a discharge pipe G which extends to the locality to which water is to be raised or discharged. `This pipe is provided with a check valve 7 of any suitable construction, preventin/ the back How of water in the pipe 6. he pipe 6 beyond the check valve is connected by a branch 8 to an air tank 9 which is connected at its upper end to the Water reservoir as hereinafter described.

Located preferably on av higher level than the chamber 3 and adjacent to the' well or cistern, is a tank or chamber l0 which l shall hereafter denominate the pumping chamber. rlhe function of this chamber 1G is to compress the air which is used for forcing out the Water in the reservoir. The upper portion of this pumping chamber is connected by a pipe 11 with ay compressed air chamber 12, which at its bottom is connected b v a pipe 13 to the upper end of the chamber 3.

An intake pipe 14 enters the lower end of the pumping chamber and a discharge pipe 15 extends therefrom. The intake pipe is to be connected to any suitable source of water supply under constant pressure, such as the supply pipes ot a city water system. The discharge pipe 1 5 may be connected lo any suitable point of discharge. as a sewer.

The passage of water through the pipes 1land 15 is controlled by valves 1t) and 17 illustrated in detail in Fig. The valve 17 upon an upward movement seats against a valve seat 18 so as to prevent the inlet of waterdnto the pumping chamber, while the valve 1G seats against a valve seatr 19 upon a downward movement of the valve. Thus the valve 1T will be held to its seat by pressure -in the pipe 11. while the valve'lG will be held to its seat by pressure in the pumping chamber 10. These valves are preferably carried upon a voke 20 which forms the lower end of a tubular rod 21 mounted upon any suitable guide. The tubular rod 21 is raised or lowered by means of a float 22 whiclris freely movable upon the tubuiar rod. The rod 21 is provided with spaced stops along its length. designated 23 and-24, with which the float. engages at the extremity of its upward or downward movement. Preferably, the rod 21 .is guided in its vertical movement by means of a rod 25 attached to the upper end of the tank l0 and extending down loosely' into the tubular rod 21.

It will be seen that by this construction the rod 21 and the valves attached thereto are moved in one direction when the float arrives at the upper end of the, tankyand in the other direction when the float sinks toward the lower end of the tank. A downward movement of the rod 21 and the yoke 20 closes the valve 1G and opens the valve 177 while an upward movement of the rod 2l and the yoke 20 closes the valve 17 and opens'the valve 16. i

1n Fig. 2 the youtlet. valve 16 is shown as being seated on the seat 19 and closing the discharge opening. while the valve 17 is shifted from its seat and the inlet opening is opened. fater is now entering from the pipe 14- and therefore the full force of the city water is in the tank and of course. on the valve 1G. holding it against the seat 1S) with the full city water pressure, say 80 lbs. to the. square inch. W hen the float 22 reaches the shoulder 28. it. n'iust lift with shifted very quickly by the force of the water pressure on the valve 17. Pressure in the pumping chamber is now relieved and the contents of .the pumping chamber pass out through the discharge pipe 15. l1`he valve 17 is now held to its seat against 1S by the'full pressure of the city water under it in the pipe-11. The pressure against this valve holding it to its seat is exactly the same per inch as the pressure on the other valve when it is-on its seat. To reverse the valves. the float must each time overcome the pressure of the city water on the valve which is seated. As soon as thishas been overcome by the tioat. the pressure of the water will act ,to quickly shift the valves.

Cxtending into the'upper portion of the pumping chamber 10 is the air inlet pipe 26 provided with a check valve 27 permitting air to enter the clnnnber 10 when the pressure therein is'reduced but preventing the outward passage of air. The pipe 11 which connects the pumping chamber with the compressedY air tank 12 is also provided with a check valve 27? which permits the passage of air from .the tank 1G into the compressed air tank 12 but prevents the return of air.

The. water reservoir 3 is provided with a like valvel arrangement to that previously described. thisv arrangement, however, permitting in one `position the entrance. of air from the compressed air tank 12 into the reservoir 3, and in its other position permitting the outlet of air from the tank, 3 into the vwater of the well or cistern. To this end the pipe 13 opens into a valve casing 28 which has a seat 29 at its lower end. The valve chanrber 3 0 which is preferably formed in conjunction with the valve'chamber 28, has a valve seat 31. at its upper end, the chamber 30 opening into the well or cistern. The valves and 33 are mounted on a ybke Bt. the valve sten'is being of unequal length7 and this yoke il is in turn attached to a tubular rod 35 moving freely upon a guide rod 3G in precisely the same. manner as the tubular rod 21'moves upon the guide rod 25. The tubular rod is provided with stop collars 37, 37a, spaced from each other with which the fioat engages at opposite ends of its travel.

The operation of so much of my invention as I have described is as follows: As the. water rises in the pumping chamber 10, it will force air into the tank 12. YVhen the Water falls in the pumping chamber 10. air will be drawn in through the pipe 26. r1`he pumping chamber 10. therefore. forces air into the compressed air tank 12 until the, air in the compressed air tank 12 is compressed to the density-of the air in the pumping chamber. Then 4the air in the compressed air tank 12 is under the saine pressure as the pressure in the 'pipe 14, then the pumping tank will rest as the air in the upper portion of the pumping chamber cannot pass off into the compressed air tank 12 and the Water in thel pumping chamber cannot rise.

The compressed air tank 12 is thus kept filled at|all times with compressed air which is ready for instant use in the reservoir tank 3. As before stated, the double valve 32 and in the reservoir tank is the same as the double valve in the pumping chamber and the larrangement for its actuation is the same. llllien the float 33 in the reservoir tank comes in contact with the shoulder 37al and reverses the valves, the valve 32 seats at 29 and thus prevents more air from entering from tank 12 through pipe 13. At the same time the valve 31 is open and permits the air in reservoir 3 to escape into the water. The reservoir 3 now fills with Water from the Well through the passage 4. vThe float 38 rises with the Water and when it comes in contact with the shoulder 37, the valves 32 and 33 are again reversed and the valve seats at 31 and the valve 32 is opened, permitting compressed air to again enter from the compressed air tank 12 through the pipe`13.

Were it not for the air chamber 9, the supply of water through the discharge pipe 6 would be intermittent. The. chamber 9, however, provides a chamber Where a certain amount of air is kept under compression and so connected to the discharge pipe 6, that the air pressure Within the chamber 9 will act to force out the water in the chamber 9 and thus cause a constant supply in the discharge pipe, even though at the time the water is being drawnfrom the discharge pipe, the reservoir 3 is taking in Water and is not yet ready to discharge Water. 1f there was no chamber 9, it will be obvious that were the reservoir 3 taking in Water, there would be no pressure in the discharge pipe 6 and that the consumer would have to wait until the reservoir 3 had fully filled before he could get any Water from the pipe 6. By using the air chamber 9, if the faucet 42 is closed at the end of thepipe 6, then the compressed air in the reservoir 3 will force water into the air chamber 9 and the Water lwill rise therein and compress the air in the upper portion of the chamber. This compressed air will act to keep a steady flow through the discharge pipe, even though the reservoir 3 is lling.

In order that a constant level of Water may be maintained within the air chamber 9 and a constant pressure of air maintained therein. I connect the chamber 9 to the reservoir by means of a pipe 39 provided With a check valve 40. A spring 41 acts to hold the valve to its seat. This check valve permits air to pass from the reservoir 3 into the air chamber 9but prevents its returning from the air chamber into the reservoir,

Starting with the system when first installed, both the reservoir and the air chamber will be full of Water which has entered through the opening 4 into the reservoir and passed thence through the pipe 6 into the air chamber 9, the faucet 4:2 being closed, and there being at this time no air pressure in the reservoir 3. lVhen the pumping chamber 10- is putin-operation, the Compressed air tank 12 will lill and the. pressure will be transmitted to the Water in the reservoir 3. Water is drawn through the pipe 6 by the opening of the faucet 42 air will enter the reservoir 3v from the compressed air tank 12, and this air will pass through the pipe 39 into the air chamber 9. As Water seeks a level under uniform pressure, the Waterpin both the reservoir and air chamber will remain at a like level as the Water is drawn from pipe 6 and the level is lowered. When the tloat in reser- Voir 3 reaches the shoulder 37a and reverses the valves, the Water in the two tanks will be at the level 1-a. Immediately upon a reversal of the valves 32 and 33, ythe air will pass out of the reservoir into the well or cis tern and the reservoir will till with Water, but the Water in the air chamber 9 will remain at a-a, the air in the air chamber being under full pressure. If no Water is drawn ofi' through the pipes 6, while the reservoir 3 is filling, no change will take place in the level of the Water in the air tank 9 and the Water in the reservoir Will again be under pressure when the reservoir has filled and the valves are reversed".

As the reservoir now has the full air pressure plus the Weight of lthe water therein, Water Will pass out of the reservoir when the faucet in pipe 6 is open and no air will pass through the pipe 39 into the air chamber 9 until the Water in the reservoir is again at the level L -a. If. however, water is drawn through the pipe 6 while thereservoir is filling, the compressed air in the air chamber 9 will force the water from the air chamber 9 up-through the pipe 6. When pressure is again resumed in the reservoir 3. the Water level in the air chamber 9 has sunk to the level c-c. As thc' air in the air chamber is not now under full pressure. and as the Water in the reservoir will be forced out through the pipe 6, not. only by the full pressure of the air but also by the Weight. of the water, water will pass from the reservoir 3 through the pipe 6 into the air chamber 9 and will so continue until thel air pressure is equal in the two tanks. Thus Water Will enter the air chamber 9 frbm reservoir 3 until the level in the tank 9 is again at point L -a.. Theoretically, no air will pass through the pipe 39 into the air chamber 9 while the air chamber is ,filling from` the reservoir because the pressiire of the air in the reservoir, plus the weight of llt) ' said compression.

the water therein, is greater than the air pressure alone in the air chamber 9. Hence water will enter the airchamber 9 from the reservoir 3 and no air would pass through thev connection 39.

In order to prevent pufl's of air from entering the air chamber 9 through the connection 39 when the valves are reversed, a spring is used behind the valve 40, the spring being strong enough to resist the pressure of the air when it first enters the reservoir but not strong enough toresist the full city water pressure.

In practice, this construction will maintain the same amount of air in theair cham-` ber 9 and each time after use the water will return to the level a-a. If the water rises above the level a-a, then some of the air is exhausted from the vair-chamber 9, and when the water in the .reservoir 3 reaches the levell of the water in the air chamber, air will pass through the connection 39 into the air chamber and the columns of water in the ai;` chamber and reservoir will go down together until the valves reverse and the water level in the air chamber is again at a-a. In this way and by this very simple arrangement, a constant supply of air is maintained in the air chamber without attention.

It is 'to-,be noted that the shoulder 37 shouldbe spaced from the shoulder 37 at shoulder 37a is too far down within the tank and too near tothe bottom thereof, there will not be enoughjwater left in the air chamber 9 to give a full supply until the reservoir 3 has again filled. There must be enough water left in the air chamber 9 to'last until the valves v'in the reservoir 3 have reversed and air pressure is again on in the reservoir 3, It will be seen that the construction I yhave just described compensates for the` ab-` sorption of'airby the water in the air chamber 9 and automatically replenishes the air therein and keeps it lat a .certaindenite pressure; 1

In the construction which I have herewith illustrated,lthe heating of the air under compression vand the cooling of the air under expansion must be taken into account as the compressed air from the reservoir-3 is discharged into the water in the well or cistern. By the construction illustrated. I discharge7 cool air into the cistern through the outlet valve chamber 30, thus cooling the water in the cistern or well. The operationof my invention in this regard is as follows.

Beginning with the pumping chamber 10,

the air compressed in this tank isl heated by Much of this heat is radiated from the pumping chamber before the air passes into the compressed air tank 12. As the tank 12 is constantly charged the tank 12' into the reservoir 3.

with compressed air and as the air remains in` that tank for a relatively long time, the air will be about the temperature of the 'surrounding atmosphere when it passes from Unly4 a relatively small amount of air entersthe w reservoir 3 at the moment when the valves are reversed, the reservoir at that time being filled with water. The air, therefore, which is forced into the reservoir 3 has plenty of time in which to radiate the heat caused by the compression it receives before it enters the reservoir 3. When the reservoir 3 is emptied of water, it is full of compressed air. When the valves are reversed to close the inlet pipe from the compressed air tank 12 and open the outlet to the cistern or Well, this compressed air escapes into the water and of course eXpandsto its normal density. The cooling by expansion exactl equals the heating by compression. The liberated air, therefore, is quite cold as it expandsthrough the water and not only tends to purify the lwater in the well orcistern, but will keep in the summer months, `and even the water is pure, it is unpleasantv to'itlrink.-

using my apparatus, water is always drawn-Q i from the bottom of -the'well ,or cistern and it is always Pure vand cold. lIn' the actual practice lof my invention a commingler'will probably be 'attached at the discharge lopening in the valve chamber 30, but f as thesecomminglers are well known, it isf no tf be' lieved' that it is necessary to describe them,

What I claim is: a

1. An apparatus for elevating liquids, inv l cluding a water reservoir havlng a Waterv inlet, a discharge pipe and an air outlet, a compressed air storage tank connected to the reservoir, means for intermittently compressing air in said' tank, means for alternately establishing connection between the compressed air tank and the water reservoir and simultaneously closing the air outlet and disestablishing said connection and simultaneously opening the air outlet, an air chamber connected at its lower end to the discharge pipe and connected at its upper end to the upper end of the water reservoir, a check valvein said connection, and means located in the discharge pipe beyond v the air chamber `for controlling the passage of liquid throughthe discharge pipe.

2. An apparatus for elevating liquids, including a reservoir having a water inlet, an air inlet and an air outlet, a discharge pipe extending from th eservoir and provided with a faucet, ana chamber connected to said discharge pipe,g'a; check valve located in the discharge pipebetween the air chamber and the reservoir, a connection from the upper end of the air chamber to theupper end of the reservoir, a check valve in said connection, means for compressing air, a connection from the air compressing means to an air inlet of the reservoir, a valve for controllipg the inlet of air, avalve controlling the outlet of air from the reservoir, said valves operating alternately, a tubular rod operatively connected to the valves to alternately actuate the same and having opposed shoulders, and a iioa't loosely surrounding the rod and located in the reservoir, said float being adapted to actuate the rod to alternately open and close said valves when the float reaches the extremities of its movement.

3. An apparatus for elevating liquids, including a water reservoir having a compressed air inlet and provided with an air outlet, said reservoir having a water inlet, a discharge pipe leading from the v-water reservoir,-alternately operating valves for altern'ately closing the air inlet and simultaneously opening the air outlet or opening said air inlet and simultaneously closing the air outlet, a float in the reservoir for operating said-valves, an air chamber connected at its bottom to the discharge pipe, a connection between theupper end of said air .chamber and the upper end of the water reservoir, a check valve in said connection, and a check valve located in the discharge pipe between the water reservoir and the air chamber.

4. An -apparatus for elevating liquids, including a reservoir having a water inlet and a discharge pipe, an air inlet and an ai;` outlet, means for intermittently forcing compressed air into` the upperportion of said reservoir, means in the reservoir `for alternately 'opening'the air inlet and closing the air outlet when the air is being forced into the reservoir kand for opening the air outlet and closing the air inlet to permit the discharge of compressed air, a float located in therrese'rvoir for controlling said means and actuated by the rise' orfall of water in the reservoir, an air chamber connected to the discharge pipe, a check valve in thepdischarge pipe between the air chamber and the reservoir, and means for admitting compressed air into the upper portion of the air chamber when the compression of the air therein is reduced belowra predetermined point. i

5. An apparatus for elevating liquids, including a reservoir having a water inlet and a discharge pipe, acompressed air inlet and an air outlet, means for alternately opening the compressedair inlet and simultaneously closing the air outlet whilethe compressed air is being forced into the reservoir and opening the 'air outlet and closing the air inlet to permit a discharge of compressed air while the reservoir is filling, a oat located in the reservoir for controlling said means and actuated by the rise or fall of water in the reservoir, an air chamber conlocated in said connection and opening whenY the pressure of the air inthe air chamber is reduced below the pressure of the air in the reservoir.

6. The combination with a well, of a water reservoir located at the bottom of the well and having a water inlet in its bottom and an air inlet and an air outlet in its upper end, said air inlet being connected to a source of air under pressure, a discharge pipe extending from the bottom of the water reservoir to a desired point and having a valve for controlling the passage of water therethrough, means located within the reservoir for alternately opening the compressed air inlet and closing the air outlet while the air is being forced into the reservoir and opening said air outlet and simultaneously closing the air inlet to permit the discharge of compressed' air while the reservoir is filling, a float located in the reservoir for controlling said means, said float being actuated by the rise or fall of water in the reservoir, an air chamber connected to the discharge pipe, a check valve in the discharge pipe between the air chambery and the reservoir, and means for admitting compressed air from the upper portion of the reservoir into the upper portion of the air chamber when the pressure of the air inthe air chamber falls below a predetermined point.: a

7. An apparatus for elevating liquids including a water reservoir having a water inlet, a discharge ipe and an air outlet,l a compressed air tan connected tothe water reservoir, means for intermittently compressing air in said tank, means for alternatel-y establishing communication between the compressed air tank and the reservoir and simultaneously closing the air outlet from the reservoir and disestablishing said connection between the compressed air tank and the reservoir and simultaneously opening the air outlet, and an air chamber opening into the discharge pipe and connected at a point remote from its outlet with the reservoir to receive the air pressure of the compressed air tank from the reservoir upon the establishing of the connection between the compressed air tank and the reservoir.

8. An apparatus for elevating liquids including a water reservoir having a water inlet, a discharge pipe and an air outlet, means for alternately admitting compressed air into said reservoir and forcing the air out therefrom through said discharge pipe and for discharging the air and allowing Water to enter said reservoir, an air chama check Valve controlling back How from ber connected to the discharge pipe and also the air chamber to the reservoir through the l connected ata point remote from its outlet discharge pipe, and means located beyond 10 with the reservoir to receive thepressure of the air chamber for controlling the fliw of air admitted to the reservoir, the discharge Water through the discharge plpe.

pipe providing communication between the In testimony whereof I aiix my signature. outlet of the air chamber and the reservoir, WILLIAM HURLEY SMITH. [1.. s.] 

